Guy shield



F. N. BIERCE March 14, 1933.

GUY 5 HI ELD Filed Feb. 12, 1950 INVENTOR ATTORNEYJ Patented Mar. 14,1933 UNITED STA ES FRED N. IBIERGE, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO GUY SHIELDApplication filed February 12, 1930. Serial No. 427,793.

The invention relates to a guard or shield for guy wires or rods andparticularly to the fastening means for securing the shield in placeabout the guy. The shield comprises a channel shape length of sheetmetal semicircular in cross section and adapted to cover a portion ofthe guy and preferably spaced therefrom. A general practice is toconnect the guy wire or cable to an eye formed in the upper end of ananchor rod,

the anchor rod emerging forward or protruding a short distance above theline of the ground and to guard or sheath the guy at a point commencingbelow the rod and wire joint so that the lower end of the shield bearscomparatively close to the ground.

WVith the lower end of the shield bearing close to the ground and beingset in an inclined line makes it very inconvenient to se- 29 cure theshield at its lower end by fastening devices requiring hand tools fortightening.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a shield or guardfor guys with fastening devices of simple and durable structure forready application of the shield to the guy and particularly at the lowerend thereto and which can be applied without the use of hand tools.

Another object of the invention is to provide a guy shield with afastener link clip ready to be clasped about the guy securing againstlateral displacement and grippingly engaged with the guy to hold theshield 5 against longitudinal displacement.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists ofcertain novel features of the construction in arrangement of parts thatwill hereinafter be more fully 9 described and illustrated in theaccompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is avertical longitudinal section taken through the center ofthe shield with the improved fastener clip at the lower end 4 thereofand in position clamping the shield to the guy.

Figure 2 is a detailed perspective view of the improved fastener clippreferably for the lower end of the shield.

Figure 3 is a front view looking against the clip and lower end of theshield in a po. sition as applied upon the'guy.

Figure 4 is a section on line, 4- 4, Figure 3' Figure 5 is a detailedplan view of the 5 clip and. lower end of'shield as viewed from theunderside of the shield. Figure 6 is a modification illustrating the useof a plurality of clips, the clips relatively conversely positioned.

Figure 7 's a section on ure 1. I

Referring to the drawing which illustrates practical improvements of theinvention, 1 indicates the shield formed of galvanized sheet metalcurved or shaped into channel form substantially semicircular in .crosssection with curved or rounded :edges at its opposite-longitudinal ends.The shield is of suitable length and cross dimension to 9 amply coverthe guy from the upper side, giving sufficient protection as may benecessary to meet the safety requirements. The shield toward its upperend is securely fastened to the guy wire orcable 2 by a U -bolt 3 and aspacer block 4 substantially the same as disclosed in the prior patentissued to me, No. 1,183,161, November 16, 1916, which have gone intoextensive commercial use. The head or cross portion 30 of the U-boltengages crosswise with the I convex or outer side of the shield and itsprongs or shanks engage through perforations in the shield straddlingthe spacer block 4 disposed and bearing against the concave or undersideof the shield and grooved to recess the shanks of the U-bolt, securingthe same against lateral displacement. 7

p 60 line 7-7 Fig- The spacer block is provided with abV- groove in itslower end for the reception of the wire cable to seat and grip the cablewhen clamped thereto by a cross bar or plate 5 engaged over the shanksof the U-bolt and clamped by the nuts 6 of the U-bolt. This type offastener provides a very substantial means for securing the upper end ofthe shield to the guy and one or several number of such clamps may beused as may be essential for a given length of shield and which arepositioned a distance up from the ground so as to be readily accessibleby hand tools for placing the fastener parts or tightening the nuts.

Insofar as the present invention is concerned, it is to be recognizedthat various other types of fasteners may be employed for securing theupper end of the shield to the guy. The lower end of the shield isprovided with an open link clip 7 preferably extending longitudinallyfrom the shield formed or stamped out of sheet. or

plate metal of a design or outline forming a body portion in the form ofaC for clasping about the anchor rod. The rod engages through theopening in the clip and the opening of configuration to provide opposing.V-notches 88 for biting or gripping the surfaces of the rod atrelatively oppoe site sides when the clip is bent or set acutely to therod, holding the shield against longitudinal displacement as well aslateral displacement or disengagement from the rod. The clip has apendant 9 integrally extending therefrom providing a ring for attachingand suspending the clip from the lower end of the shield and secured tothe shield by a bolt or rivet 10.and a neck or stem portion at which theclip will more readily yield or bend to incline the clip relatively tothe rod in applying the shield.

The clip is preferably formed from spring metal allowing the clip toyield or bend at the neck or stem and possesses sufficient elasticity'to engage with the guy under tension to constantly maintain its grippingclasp about the guy or anchor rod. A clip opening is of such design andmeasurement adapting the rod to be threaded vinto the opening when theclip is positioned at right angles thereto and binding or gripping therod therewith when moved or inclined acutely thereto. The slightinclination of the clip from the perpendicular at which the threading iseasily accomplished will position the clip to prevent lateraldisplacement and when inclined to a degree to bring the edges of theV-notches into engagement with the rod establishes a gripping holdtherewith preventing longitudinal displacement or movement of the shieldupon the rod and also maintains an appropriate spacing of the shieldfrom the rod.

In applying the shield, a lower clipped end of the shield is firstengaged with the rod and then bent to incline the shield and bring thesame parallel with the guy whereby the shield is secured by the upperfasteners. In the modification shown in Figure 6, a pair of open linkclips are provided conversely arranged and adapted to swing or swivelupon the bolt or rivet 10 to separate the same sufficiently to allow forinsertion of the rod into the openings of the clip, and then brought toa closed position after corrosion of sheet metal.

which the shield is moved down to a parallel position with the guy rod,substantially the same as described for the single clip. In the modifiedform, the clips can be made of lighter weight material with the functionand utility extending the same'as in the use of a single clip.

The open link clip, aside from furnishing a ready and eifective fastenerfor the lower end of the shield, permits the shield to be broughtclosely to the ground or even in contact therewith if desired, which,however, would not be feasible on account of The clip represents asingle stamping of simple and cheap manufacturing and within the presentconcept, may also be regarded as an integral part of the shield,although the shield usually is made of the gauge of metal which wouldnot offer the stability to that of a clip made from a heavy gauge springmetal.

Having described my invention,-I claim:

A shield for guy rods and cables, comprising, an elongatedchannel-shaped member adapted to overlie a portion of the guy, a guyengaging clip fixed-to and extending from one longitudinal end of thechannel member constituting a plate having a notch at one edge inwardlyproviding a throat to receive the guy therethrough and clinch theretowhen the clip is disposed at an acute angle to the guy. In Witnesswhereof, I hereunto subscribe my name.

FRED N. BIERCE.

